It's Dangerous to be Right When Government is Diabolically Devious: Gujarat IPS Officer Sanjiv Bhatt on his Sacking

The Ministry of Home Affairs sacked Bhatt for "remaining defiant and flagrantly flouting the rules with complete disregard".

August 20, 2015 10:32 IST

Gujarat IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, who was sacked by the state government on grounds of unauthorised absence from duty, said he was removed from service "after conducting a sham, ex-parte inquiry on completely fabricated charges of unauthorised absence from duty".

"It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong," Bhatt said in a Facebook post, quoting French writer Voltaire. "And all the more dangerous when the government is diabolically devious as well!" the 1998 batch IPS officer said after being dismissed from his duties.

Bhatt was suspended in 2011 for taking on then Gujarat government headed by Narendra Modi and remained suspended until his sacking. His sacking was reportedly a consequence of his affidavit filed in the Supreme Court alleging Modi's involvement in the post-Godhra riots.

In the affidavit, Bhatt claimed that Modi had instructed the police officials to allow the Hindus to "vent out their anger" and to "teach a lesson" to those involved in Godhra train burning incident. Bhatt had said that he was part of the meeting, during which this instruction was passed.

The sacking orders was issued on 13 August, but Bhatt confirmed about his removal on Wednesday evening. "Yes, it is true that my services have been terminated. This was expected. They have been conducting a completely ex-parte inquiry. I got the letter (sack order) from them (the Home ministry)," Bhatt told PTI.

'Unauthorised absence from duty' is a fabricated charge

Reacting to his dismissal from duties for "unauthorised absence from duty", Bhatt said, "The Government of the day has decided to remove me from service after conducting a sham, ex parte inquiry on completely fabricated charges of 'unauthorised absence from duty'".

He further added that he deposed before the SIT during the period he has been accused to have remained absent without permission.

"Mind you, this so-called 'unauthorised absence from duty' pertains to the period when I was deposing before the SIT (investigating into the Zakia Jafri complaint) and the Nanavati Commission (inquiring into the Gujarat riots). Be that as it may, the bottom-line is that if the Government of the day does not require my services...so be it," he wrote in another Facebook post.

In the post, Bhatt wrote that he was never disappointed during his 27 years of service in the IPS.

"All I have to say is that, at the age of 24, with a passion and fire that still continues to rage in me, I chose the Indian Police Service because I saw it as a career that would add action and purpose to my life. And I have not been disappointed one bit. In fact, I have enjoyed every moment of the last 27 years in the IPS."